Friday, November 27, 2015

Here is the schedule for the next test broadcasts of Marconi Radio International:

28th November 2015, from 1300 to 1430 UTC29th November 2015, from 0900 to 1300 UTC

Our frequency is 11390 kHz and power in the region of 30 watts. Test broadcasts consist of non stop
music, station identification announcements in Italian, English, Spanish as well as DX shows in
English and Italian.

Until now reception reports, found to be correct, have been received from 13 countries: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain,
Switzerland and Ukraine. We are anxious to receive feedbacks from more countries!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Radio Marconi Int from Italy sent this eQSL and a station newsletter. In it they explain that the transmitter can only broadcast between 11 and 12 mHz but there are plans for a second transmitter which can be tuned between 6 and 21 mHz. At the moment the station is a difficult catch on 11390 kHz although they have received reports from 13 countries. The station first went on the air in 1986 and continued until 1999. This year RMI returned to the airwaves. Thanks for the QSL.

Here is the schedule for the next test broadcasts of Marconi Radio International:

21st November 2015, from 1300 to 1430 UTC
22nd November 2015, from 0900 to 1300 UTC
25th November 2015, from 1800 to 1930 UTC

Our frequency is 11390 kHz and power in the region of 30 watts. Test broadcasts consist of non stop music, station identification announcements in Italian, English, Spanish as well as DX shows in English and Italian.

Until now reception reports, found to be correct, have been received from 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. We are anxious to receive feedbacks from more countries!

Monday, November 16, 2015

Great QSL received from QBC International. The station, which broadcasts from Hungary, used to be called Lightning Radio. But after a break of a few years he is back with a new station. He uses a 10-12W transmitter with a dipole antenna aligned north to south, 9 metres above ground level. He broadcasts on 6985 kHz weekdays from 1800-2400 UTC and weekends from 1400-0200 UTC. Thanks for the QSLs.

Wizard's MW Free Radio blog reports: "On July 26 two men were seen outside the house of the operator of Radio Zeewolf, who was transmitting on MW at the time. They were taking photographs of the antenna and were thought to have been representatives of the AT, who are responsible for keeping the airwaves clear of illicit radio stations in the Netherlands. However, they were not seen again and nothing was heard about the visit. Not until October 31."

A new approach to tackling pirate radio has eradicated the problem in one London borough, and could save up to £1 million for Londoners by being rolled out across the capital.

Pirate radio harms local communities and the critical communications used by the emergency services. Ofcom, which manages radio frequencies, is hosting a summit on 3 November to explore the new approach to tackling the problem.

Pirate stations typically use high-rise buildings for their broadcasts, with illegal transmitters installed on rooftops or hidden in lift shafts. This damages residential properties owned by local authorities, disrupting residents' lives and putting people at risk from falling equipment.

Ofcom has been working in north London, one of the UK's most affected areas, with public housing body Homes for Haringey. In 2014, 19 pirate radio stations were illegally broadcasting in Haringey. By quickly removing their transmitters and regularly patrolling and securing rooftops, pirate radio has now been eradicated in the borough.

As a result, Homes for Haringey has saved £90,000 in enforcement and maintenance costs over the past year.
On 3 November, Ofcom is meeting with local authorities from across London to share the success of the Homes for Haringey partnership. If this collaborative and proactive approach is rolled out across the capital, local authorities stand to save an estimated total of £1 million per year.

Illegal broadcasting:

Clive Corrie, Head of Ofcom's Spectrum Enforcement team, said: "Illegal broadcasting harms local communities and risks lives by interfering with vital communications used by the emergency services and air traffic control.

"By working in partnership with local authorities, Ofcom is tackling this problem. We also strongly urge those broadcasting illegally to get involved with internet or community radio, a legitimate route on to the airwaves."

Astrid Kjellberg-Obst, Executive Director of Operations at Homes for Haringey, said: "Pirate radio stations damage people's homes and can be extremely distressing to our residents.

"We've seen huge success in tackling the problem with the measures that we've introduced, removing all pirate radio stations from Haringey and saving the borough tens of thousands of pounds in the process. We will continue to work with Ofcom to keep Haringey pirate-free."

Harmful interference to emergency services:

Pirate radio causes interference to critical radio services, including those used by the emergency services and air traffic control.

In 2014, the UK's air traffic control service NATS has reported 55 cases of communications interference from pirate radio.

Ofcom also receives reports each week from the emergency services and other, legitimate radio services of illegal interference.

Ofcom has powers to seize illegal broadcasting equipment and prosecute those involved.

Accessible, legal alternatives to get on to the airwaves:

For anyone wanting to broadcast a radio station, Ofcom offers accessible, legal alternatives to get on to the airwaves. Since 2005, Ofcom has issued community radio licenses, enabling small stations across the UK to get on-air right and serve their local communities. More than 200 community radio services are now broadcasting.

Ofcom is also supporting a new, innovative way for smaller stations to broadcast on digital radio. If tests are successful the system, called 'small scale DAB', promises to open up digital radio to smaller broadcasters for a fraction of current costs.